Hotel Intel: Westin La Paloma, Tucson, Arizona
The drive from the Tucson airport into town isn’t the most scenic. Like most neighborhoods surrounding an airport, this one doesn’t give the best first impression of the city. Then you reach the Santa Catalina Mountains, where the Westin La Paloma is perched in the Sonoran Foothills, and you see where Tucson’s pockets of beauty lie. From here, the city sprawled out below doesn’t look so bad after all. Not impressed? Make a 180 for an even more breathtaking view of Mount Kimball.
First Impressions
As you drive past the strip malls, Mexican restaurants and college bars, you might wonder how and where the Westin La Paloma fits into the scheme of things. In fact, you might be down right terrified of what “world class” means in Tucson. Don’t fret; as your car climbs up the cliffs and turns onto the Westin La Paloma’s long driveway, allow yourself to breath a sigh of relief. Ahead of you is a huge overhang of contemporary southwest or Spanish colonial style—think straight lines, a flat roof and stucco—with creative chandeliers and columns that take the otherwise casual architecture style up a notch. The beige structure juts out from the lobby and features huge arches all the way around it, welcoming you with a fresh burst of grandeur.
Unless you have a car, you will likely miss the very front of the hotel, below which the parking lot sits. We recommend you take a look, as it features a manicured garden and a fountain perfectly framed by the largest arch of them all, which sort of sets the tone for the resort—grandiose yet down to earth (apparently, it’s possible). Turn around to appreciate the view of Tucson below—it doesn’t look like a college town from up here. The lobby extends on both sides of the overbearing overhang. Once you walk into the oversized glass doors to the lobby, you’ll be even more impressed by the massive cathedral window that extends two floors (each with an extremely high ceiling) and perfectly frames the hotel’s claim to fame (at least in our opinion): the pool area set in front of Mount Kimball. You’ll find many more arches and arched windows throughout the lobby, which in turn has a European piazza feel. After you check in, walk down the grand staircase that leads to the bar and then the pool area. Walk out those big glass doors, as your room is likely somewhere around here. Good luck finding it the first try, though. The layout—with sections A through I—is a bit intimidating (if you really don’t want to think on this vacation, make use of their complimentary chauffeured golf carts).
The Rooms
